My first trip abroad was when I was 20 almost 21. I was born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio and went to school at Indiana University. We didn’t travel much as a family besides going to Chicago or Hilton Head. I arrived to Florence Italy with big eyes and the city was so overwhelming. I remember not wanting to go anywhere alone. I have a terrible sense of direction and doing anything passed the Internet Train on the corner to check my email by myself was terrifying.

Google maps wasn’t around back then so finding my way to school was a challenge. I should mention that my apartment was on one side of Florence and school was on the complete opposite side. It was about a 20 minute walk with no stops. I walked home with one of my roommates after class when we first arrived. If you would have told that scared 20 year old girl I would one day live in Paris alone I would have laughed and never believed it. It took a while to get comfortable with being in a foreign city not only trusting myself that I know where I was going but also being ok with getting lost.

I remember the first time I figured out how to walk home from school by myself, it was the most liberating feeling. I quickly ditched my roommate and walked home by myself every day. I took different streets and bridges all with the same end destination. My experience in Italy was also where I fell in love with travel. I know the exact moment that it happened. It was at the top of the tower in Siena. I knew that travel was going to be a big part of my life from this point forward.

My first trip to Paris was during my semester of study abroad. I had always wanted to go to Paris and I finally got my chance over Valentine’s Day. I went with a few friends from Italy and also met up with college friends from IU. I was sick with bronchitis but I fought through the entire time because I was so happy to be in Paris. I did everything touristy and was convinced I hated French food. I am pretty sure we went for burgers and Chinese food that weekend. It is quite the opposite now where I am happy at a French bistro and skip burgers for when I am home in the States.

During that first trip to Paris we did everything touristy. I had studied the French impressionist artists in school so a trip to the Musée D’Orsay was a must. I shot this photograph which was the reason why I went back in 2010. I had started an Etsy shop and this photograph got the most hits out of everything in the shop. I used airline miles from my previous job and a little babysitting money and booked a trip to Paris. My family thought I was crazy, I didn’t really think much of it.

I researched my trip to Paris for months ahead of time making notes in a journal of everything I wanted to see and do. I found an inexpensive hotel on the Left Bank just a few minutes from The Rodin Museum. I felt very out of my comfort zone when I first arrived. I asked the hotel for a recommendation for a restaurant and they told me to go next door. I was so upset thinking they had sent me to a tourist trap. It happened to be the cutest restaurant with red checkered tablecloths and a chalkboard menu. The food was reasonably priced and it was so good. I went there almost every night for dinner the whole week I was in Paris. I dined solo but there were regulars in the restaurant and it never felt uncomfortable.

The restaurant and the regulars never made me feel uncomfortable for eating alone. I practiced my French and they would give me recommendations on what to visit next. This is where I first tasted fois gras, escargots, and duck. I made friends with another couple after we both ordered the last chocolate mousse. I have kept in touch with Ryan and Erin over the years and I even visited them in LA a while back. We reunited in Paris in 2015. Sadly, the man in the photo passed away and the restaurant closed and was sold. The memories remain and this will always be a part of my Paris story.

In 2013, I packed up my apartment in Chicago and moved to Paris for three months. The same feelings I had back in Italy all those years ago came back. I didn’t know my way around the city and I was all alone. I didn’t really know anyone in the city besides my Paris family. I lived in the 18th and they lived in the 3rd. I would see them once a week and I would walk from my place to theirs. I didn’t have cell service or a SIM card. I figured out where to go by getting lost and would check my email at Starbucks along the way. I really enjoyed not being connected and I felt so much more creative as I learned my way around the city. It is still one of my favorite walks to do. Over the years, I have had a few apartments in the Marais but I always enjoy going back to my old neighborhood in Montmartre.

Traveling solo can be very lonely especially at meal times. I remember the first night I took myself out for dinner in Montmartre. The meal was at a terrible bistro just a few minutes walk from where I was staying. I tried to break out of my comfort zone but I clearly failed. The food was awful and I couldn’t wait to get back to my apartment and put on my pajamas. I remember the waitress wouldn’t serve me dessert until I slowed down. She brought me magazines and newspapers to the table and told me to enjoy the experience. After she brought me the check, she told me to enjoy my vacation (in French). I was disappointed in myself more than anything. I went to Paris to live like a local in a Paris apartment and I my behavior was the exact opposite.

photo by Iheartparis

As the city transformed from Winter to Spring, I felt a personal transformation of growth. Where I once felt out of my comfort zone struggling with the language and the culture, I now felt like Paris was my home.

I spent evenings at a café people watching or strolling The Seine. This became my favorite form of entertainment. I never turn on the tv when I am in Paris. The best people watching is right outside your door at your local café.

I love to sit and journal at a café about observations and ideas for future projects. A book or a journal can be a great way to keep yourself occupied when you are sitting alone. It an also be a great conversation starter if someone else is alone next to you.

A few of my favorite spots that I have met people I have become friends with or have boys I have dated:

L’avant comptoir - you an easily go here alone and strike up a conversation with neighbors at the bar. There are people from all over the world that come here and you will find English speakers. Don’t rush yourself, order a few dishes and a glass of wine. This may help ease the fear of striking up a conversation with a stranger.

Café Nemours - close to The Louvre. I met a boy here and we dated for a bit while I was in Paris. He was sitting alone and I happened to pass by on my walk home and he caught my eye.

Chez Gladines - there are a few in the city. I was waiting to meet a friend for dinner and I met a group of boys who later joined my friend and me. Some of these dating stories will have to be saved for a book ;)

Au Petit Fer à Cheval in the Marais. I found this spot back in 2012 and I have been going ever since. I love sitting at the bar by myself and ordering a coffee. I have made friends with one of the bartenders and I continue visiting year after year. I practice my French and people watch. I have met so many great people sitting here. This tiny bar could have it’s own show or book. There are so many creative and interesting people that pass through each and every day.

Solo female travel can be intimidating and scary but I also think it can be so much fun. You have the option to create your own itinerary, eat when you want and go to sleep when you want. You will never get in a fight with yourself over being hangry. (hungry/angry) I have traveled more solo than I have with someone or in a group.

Most importantly, you have to do what you feels comfortable to you. If solo travel isn’t your thing or you aren’t ready for it, travel with a friend. Try an afternoon alone at a café or explore a museum on your own. My journey was a long process, but now it has become part of my life. I really enjoy my solo travel and I also hope to share travel adventures in the future with someone I care about.

This Summer, I will be back with my family to Europe for vacation. We will be in both Italy and France and I know that I have to make compromises. I love my family and I can’t wait to travel and make memories together. My favorite part of the day is in the early morning. I plan on carving out my morning walks and photo shoots before the family wakes up and gets ready for breakfast. Taking this time for myself will make me a more patient travel companion. I am also adding a little time on after the trip so I can explore a few places that I may not make it to with a large group.

What are your thoughts on solo travel? Do you like it? Have you tried it before or are you thinking about taking your first trip? Comment below!

At the end of 2018, I was completely burnt out. I took the longest amount of time off I have ever taken since starting the business in 2009. I had to force myself to unplug and be disconnected from work. I knew that I wanted to start 2019 off slowly. I didn’t plan any travel for the month of January and I spent my time in Chicago with friends. I embraced hibernation with blankets, candles, and Netflix.

I gave myself until February 1 to make my goals for the year. I didn’t put any pressure on myself to have them complete by January 1st. I did them gradually and shared them with friends over the month of January. Some of the goals are personal and some are business related.

Personal:

Last year, my big focus was all about SLEEP! This year, my focus is self care. After being so burnt out last year, I know that this has to be a focus for me. I will share more about what this looks look like as the year goes on.

Find love… This is more of a personal wish than goal. I know that you can’t force anything. I have kissed a lot of frogs over the years and I am really hoping this is the year that I find love.

I have been making it to dance every single morning and I have been joking with the girls that I want to see my abs by Summer. I think it is a fair goal to want to see them by bathing suit season. I doubt a six pack will happen but after one straight month, I have seen two out of six. The rest are hiding under croissants.

Improve my Conversational French by June. I will be in the South of France with my family at the end of June and I really want to feel more comfortable in my conversational French. I made this goal before finding out Caroline was moving back to France. Since then, I have been meeting with her husband to speak French. I have been able to hold some very lengthy conversations about my weekends in French and I have been known to tell a joke or two. My fear of making a mistake is holding me back but I am slowly letting go of this.

Be early or on time more often than in the past. Today, I arrived at dance 5 minutes early, which means that I have been early for an entire month! How many days does it take to form a habit? I think I am on the right track.

Take more candid photos with friends and family. While building out this blog post about finding my community in Paris, I realized that I had very few photos of me and friends. I have thousands of photos of Paris but I rarely take photos of myself. I need to worry less about how I look and just have fun in the moment.

Business:

I would love a book lead by the end of 2019. I plan on working onA Year in Paris in hopes of pitching it to an agent/publisher.

In 2018, the blog was just shy of 500,000 page views. The growth was huge and I this year I want to continue to grow and hit 1,000,000 page views by the end of 2019.

Visit Paris three times in 2019 and explore a new city I haven’t seen yet. Last year, I came up with the idea to alternate between Paris and a new city each time. This way it challenges me to get outside of my comfort zone and see something new. I really want to see Chantilly for a day trip outside Paris. When I am in the South of France with my family I hope to visit Grasse or Menton. The blog has been centered around Paris for the last few years but I know a lot of readers have been asking to expand outside of Paris. I am open to suggestions if anyone has them!

My business goals are BIG. Doubling my traffic is going to be a challenge but I am about to hit year three of the blog this year and I am excited to see where this year takes me.

At the beginning of 2018, I decided not to make New Year’s Resolutions or goals until I slowed down. I wanted to sit in Paris at a café and think about what I wanted for this next year. I wrote a few things down on paper and turned the page and didn’t really look back until just a few weeks ago.

It has been nonstop since that week in Paris. I never slowed down. When I slowed down even for an hour or two I found another way to make myself busy with another project. Some of it was my own doing and others were just work opportunities that popped up.

I remember when I was in Paris in April, I was so overwhelmed. That is when it hit me that I was in over my head yet I kept pushing myself. If you have been following me for a while, you might remember I had a terrible cough and laryngitis at this part of the year. I was dating a doctor while I had this cough back in Chicago and instead of encouraging me to rest, he was inviting me out to do activities. I wanted to give the relationship the effort it deserved and I put that before my health. It sounds even worse as I type this. The relationship didn’t work out for a lot of reasons.

In May, I had a friend get married which included me planning and cohosting a wedding shower, a bachelorette weekend, and a wedding all in the same month. My period has always been like clockwork and during this time, I was late. I stressed and panicked because I knew something wasn’t right. (I wasn’t pregnant if that is what you are thinking). My body was giving me all the signs that I was stressed and in over my head. I read the signals and stopped for a minute but then I just kept pushing myself.

In June, I participated in Wells Street Art Fair which was completely rained out and my tent was flooded for two days. It looked like an I Love Lucy episode in real life. Water was coming through the tent with holes everywhere. It was a disaster and a show that I rely on for a big chunk of my income was a complete wash. I took a last minute job opportunity at the end of the month to go to the South of France. It was one of the most spontaneous and adventurous things I have done. My article was never published from the project but I was still compensated. I am so grateful that I had the job flexibility to say yes and that I took the chance even though I had no idea what was on the other side.

The same week I was in South of France, I flew directly to Cleveland to reconnect with my 92 year old grandmother with my sister, mom, niece and nephew. My body was so confused on timing because of flight delays and jet lag. I ended up with one of the worst migraines I can remember. I felt sick most of the day and then suffered from a migraine hangover. We were in Cleveland for less than 48 hours so it was just one big mess. It was still worth it to see my grandma, sister, mom, and Emma all together in one room. I could have extended my trip in the south of France but this was more important.

August and September seem like one big blur. I made it to Florida for Bobby and Emma’s joint birthday celebration.

October I was back in Paris. It was the busiest I have ever seen the city. The weather was also the nicest I have ever experienced in the Fall. We didn’t have one rainy day and I could walk around without a coat for more than half of my trip. Once I was back from Paris, life just never stopped. My biggest regret of the year is not taking more time off. It is something I struggle with and will really have to focus on in 2019.

Once November hit, I was so overwhelmed. I was just pushing myself through to December 20th. It wasn’t healthy or smart. I am still shocked I didn’t get sick. Content on the blog suffered in December and stats that I spent all year building were not where I wanted them to be. I had my biggest show of the year at the Merchandise Mart, work obligations, The Print Shop, and the blog. I do everything on my own and nothing was planned ahead of time. I was just reacting instead of planning.

I feel incredibly grateful for my life. I know it isn’t normal to travel to Paris as often as I do. I want more than anything for the blog to be crazy successful. It is going to take time. It is still a baby in blog terms. I will be 3 years old in July! I play the comparison game to successful bloggers that I follow. I feel defeated in so many ways. My instagram following isn’t my main focus, the blog is where I put my time and energy. I am passed up for so many opportunities just because my follower count isn’t higher. It is something I have to surrender to and know that my strategy is more long term than short term.

The last week of 2018, I was scrolling through Instagram and Facebook and so many people said it was their “best year yet” I wouldn’t say 2018 was my worst year, but it wasn’t anywhere near my best year. It was a year of struggles, challenges, and rebuilding.

Here is a look into what I wrote down in my notebook at the start of 2018. I honestly believe that you can manifest what you want by writing what you want down and putting it into the universe.

1000 people in the EDP Community Facebook Page. Right now we have 600 and I know I can get it to 1000 by the end of 2019. I let this one slide towards the end of the year but I have plans to be more active in it in 2019. If you haven’t joined, this is a great place to connect with other Francophiles around the world. A lot of readers will ask for travel advice and other members will chime in with replies.

I had a goal to double my revenue on the blog and I passed that goal by a significant amount. This was a big win of 2019.

At the end of 2017, I started The Print Shop. It was my first time building by business off of Etsy which I had depended on for so many years. This was so scary and a big challenge. I had a small goal because I didn’t know what to expect but I nearly matched my Etsy income in my first year!

Blog Growth in 2018. My page views were up 112% from 2017, Visits were up 68.5%, and Unique Visitors were up 155%!!

I did forget to mention one unexpected BONUS highlight from 2018. I met my French teacher Caroline at the local boulangerie in my neighborhood. I noticed her French accent and took a chance by asking if she was open to lessons. She has given me the confidence that I was missing to practice and speak French. She has also taught me through learning French that it is okay to make mistakes. A big fear of mine that was holding me back from a lot of things.

I didn’t meet every goal for the year but I had growth. My friend Meghann taught me that growth is the important part. No matter how small it is, it is a step in the right direction. I have to remind myself this as I look at my goals and growth for 2018. This year had more challenges than I ever wanted but I have learned a lot from my mistakes and I have grown stronger as a business and as a person.

So how was your 2018? Did you have more highs or lows? I didn’t plan on doing a year in review but I know it will be important to look back in a few years and see this written out. I also want to be able to share my struggles and lessons and hopefully it will help someone else along the way.

I haven’t decided my focus for 2019 just yet. I have some ideas. In 2018, I was all about mastering the art of sleep. It is still a work in progress.

In my personal life, I hope that 2019 is the year I finally find love. I have kissed enough frogs over the years that it is about time!

7 years ago today, I lost my grandma. She was my best friend and the most amazing cheerleader. She was the person I called on my best days and on my worst days. She was my person. I know 7 years is a long time ago but it still feels like yesterday. I was with her when she passed and it is still something that makes me emotional. I don’t think there is a timeline for dealing with a loss. The best way I have dealt with her loss is by keeping her memory alive. As a family, we share stories and always keep her in our thoughts.

My grandma made the best eggs, always had room for dessert (chocolate of course) and loved hearing about my travels. After my grandpa passed away, I studied abroad in Florence. My grandma and I wrote letters back and forth the whole time I was gone, about once a week for four months. I think this distracted her while she grieved for my grandpa. She kept for years afterwards. She asked me before she passed if I wanted them and I told her to keep them. I really wish I kept those letters and the ones she sent me. I still have two of the cards she wrote me and continue to read them over and over.

I didn’t know much about my grandma’s life from her childhood, she didn’t share much. I gave her a book to fill out the year before she passed. It was one of those fill in the blank books with prompts. I kept asking her to fill it out and she told me she would get to it. About a month before she passed, I got the book in the mail. My aunt helped fill it out with her. It was filled out with stories of her childhood, motherhood, and her relationship with my grandpa. It was and still is one of the best gifts I have ever received.

I shared it with my family before and after she passed. It was such an amazing way to connect with old family and family memories I didn’t really know.

After she passed, I was able to reconnect with my aunts and uncles. My one aunt who lives in NJ tells me stories about my grandma while we cook in the kitchen. It is my favorite thing to do when I visit. She is an amazing cook/baker and we spend hours in the kitchen on the weekends. She could easily tell me the same story over and over about my grandma and I wouldn’t mind.

My other aunt is amazing in her own way. She loves to read books and we will occasionally read the same ones together. She follows the blog and reads the book club books. She is a yogi and such a positive and strong person. She is so supportive of the blog and my business. I really look forward to spending time with her when I visit home. It has been so fun seeing her interact and bond with my niece and nephew too.

While there will never be a replacement for the person my grandma was in my life, I am so lucky to have amazing strong women that support me.

I was left with three gifts after my grandma passed.

Her engagement ring. I used to ask to try it on every time I saw her. I have been waiting “patiently” for the day that I get engaged. She wanted a way to always be with me. While it has been 7 years and I am still single, I am thinking of turning it into a different piece of jewelry so I can wear it now.

My grandpa used to write letters to my grandma. Love letters. While he was in The Navy, her birthday, and their anniversary. There was a book she kept them in. I had no idea about this until after she passed. I scanned them all to keep them safe. I love opening this book and seeing the love they shared.

Reconnecting with family. It is sad that we didn’t know each other better when I was younger. But, we are making up for lost time.

While there is no timeline on grief and loss. There is a silver lining. I am lucky to have found mine.

Bonjour from Paris! It took me longer to adjust to the time difference this time around but I am slowly getting there. While most people tell me they envy my job there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of the beautiful photographs. I have an early wakeup call before 8 am to catch the light and I end up working way too late at night. As I write this it is 11:30 pm and I will most likely work until 1 am before calling it a night. I figure I can sleep when I get home or at least attempt to. (we all know I am not the best sleeper)

The weather has been more like Summer weather than mid-October Fall weather. No matter how well I have packed from years of experience, I didn’t pack quite right. My suitcase was heavy on arrival and I have already picked up a few things at the pharmacie.

To be honest, I put a lot of pressure on myself for these trips. The trips to Paris are fully funded by me. My photography is what allows me to return to Paris so often. I save a lot and work hard and do my best to maximize my time here. I try to collect as many photographs as I can for the Print Shop and blog content. I plan out ideas for future blog posts as readers ask questions during the trip and I make notes as I go throughout my travels.

I truly try to make each experience different. Tonight, I was enjoying cheese and wine with my neighbors next door at my Paris Perfect Apartment this evening and they have been to Paris a few times. They explained it best as each trip was a different layer of the city. The first trip is the museums and all the sights and the trips that follow are discovering something new.

I have been to Paris a lot over the last 8 years and I am always trying to make a new experience. This time around I am staying at a few different places. They are in different neighborhoods all around the city which gives me a different perspective. Some are familiar neighborhoods and others are new discoveries.

A lot of readers have been asking for everyday life in Paris when I asked what they wanted to see through my eyes. There are parts that I have seen so many times that they seem normal to me. My goal this trip is to really step back and try to see it for the first time. From cafés to quiet streets and everything in between. I am also challenging myself to put people in my photographs. For years, I have been shooting empty streets. I was always turned away by cars parked on the streets or people passing by. I am trying to see the city differently and the people what makes Paris.

I am in Paris until next week and I am looking forward to discovering new parts of Paris and seeing Paris for the first time with fresh eyes. If there is something you would love to see from Luxembourg Gardens to the Eiffel Tower please comment below and I will do my best to show you.

Last week, my Mom called me to tell me that Emma (my 5 year old niece) thought that my sister loved Bobby (age 2) more than her. The reason being that my sister spends a lot more time with Bobby than Emma. As the youngest in the family, I totally understood where Emma was coming from. Of course, it isn’t true at all. Emma is a smart and independent 5 year old who can dress herself and play in her room quietly on her own. My sister has made an effort to give Emma and Bobby their own “special time” so they feel loved equally.

Then it clicked, this was like me and my two businesses! I have had the print business since 2010 and the blog is the new baby. Of course, the blog takes up a lot of my time because it is growing and needs constant attention. There isn’t one that I love more than the other. I am SO proud of the print business and how much it has grown over the years. Just like Emma, it can run on its own. I still fulfill every print order myself and write hand written notes to all my customers. I feel so incredibly lucky to do what I do every day. I know it really doesn’t have to do with luck, it has to do with hard work.

As my friend Kat would say, “the print shop needs a little love”. I am terrible at self promotion. If you have ever met me at a show, I never push my customers into buying anything. I have always wanted someone to feel emotionally connected to a piece. When I sell my work in person or through the print shop, customers have shared personal stories on their connection to the city of Paris. My photographs have been gifts to family member to remember a trip, graduation gifts, and I even have first time art collectors spending their allowance on my art.

The last two years, I have started work at 7 am and worked way into the evening. I love what I do and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I know that it will be probably another year before the blog picks up and makes money. This has been the best month as far as traffic since starting the blog. I know hard work pays off and I am not giving up.

If you have been looking for a way to support the blog, this is the BEST way. I don’t do sponsored ads and I never push a product I don’t believe in to my readers. This makes generating income through the blog a whole lot harder. I could take the easy way out, but I always want to be authentic and keep my great relationship with you.

Photo by Katie Donnelly Photography

If you need a little help deciding what to choose from the print shop, let me help! My friend Megann told me that she loves when I mention the best sellers. So here are the TOP 5 in the shop.

I discovered this adorable car on the streets of Paris near Parc Monceau. It turns out after asking around, this belongs to a teacher that works at a nearby school. This has been a really popular print in the shop in all sizes.

I am often asked which print is my favorite. This has been a favorite of mine since I shot it back in 2015. I remember how much love was in that room that day. I had lunch with my Paris family and they had friends over. We sat around the table eating and drinking while the kids ran from room to room. We took a few minutes to change courses and the light poured into the room illuminating the whole place. I quickly got up and grabbed my camera to capture this moment. It is the screen saver on my phone and hangs on my gallery wall at home.

I love the story behind this photograph. My friend Emily and I were out and about exploring her neighborhood which I had never really been to before. We were in the 16th arrondissement. I looked up and saw this oval window high above the city. I totally took a chance and convinced her that we should go find out if the view was to the Eiffel Tower. The window belonged to a hotel and their top suite had this view. We asked at the desk if we could see a room and within a few minutes we were in the elevator. I grabbed Emily’s hand as we found out that we were going to the oval room. We had about 5 minutes to look around and I snapped this photo. I had no idea how popular it would be. I immediately text my mom with pride, “you never know unless you ask.” This has been a best seller in black and white and color for three years and my most viewed item in the shop.

Montmartre was my first neighborhood in Paris and will always have a special place in my heart. This print hangs above the table I write the blog on and I look at it every day. It is printed larger than life and it makes me smile from ear to ear. Those long nights sitting in front of the computer aren’t that bad knowing that I have a view of Paris to look at.

There are a good amount of questions that I get asked on repeat so I thought a blog post would be a great place to host all the questions and answers. If you don’t see your question answered in this post, please feel free to comment below and I will try to add it in!

What is your full time job?

I started off as a travel photographer when I was laid off from my job in 2008. You can read about how I created my dream job here. I went to Paris in 2010 and I have been photographing the city ever since. I truly believe there is a book in me along with the thousands of photographs I have taken. That is my next big dream.

Why don’t you live in Paris?

The easy answer is taxes and family. I moved to Paris in 2013 for three months and traveled back as often as I could since my life was in storage. That same year my sister had my niece and everything changed. Being an Aunt to my niece and nephew is such a joy. We Facetime a few times a week and I see them for visits at least 6 times a year. It never feels like enough. Chicago to Florida is far enough. I would miss them way too much if I lived in Paris full time.

I am often asked if I met a Parisian, would I stay? Of course! It makes the family part complicated. I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it.

Since I run my own business, it is much easier to do in the US vs France. I could get an Artists Visa and live in Paris but taxes would be complicated. From my expat friends that live and work in Paris, they tell me that it is much easier and cost effective to live in the States.

Favorite croissant in Paris?

I wrote a post about it! I am always looking for new boulangeries in Paris when I visit. I recently added a new croissant to the list!

5. My favorite arrondissement/ neighborhood in Paris?

My first and second apartment in Paris was in Montmartre. This will always have a special place in my heart. I love the vibe and how it is a little removed from the center of the city. My current favorite is The Marais. I have always wanted to live in this neighborhood and I finally spent a good chunk of time in The Marais in 2017. You can see my adorable apartment I rented in The Marais here.I have a Marais Guide where you can see my favorite places to shop and explore. You can find me here on a Sunday for a stroll and a coffee no matter where I am staying in the city.

6. I am headed to Paris soon, where should I eat?

7. Where should I stay in Paris?

I have had better luck with hotels than apartments lately. Airbnb isn’t what it used to be in Paris. I used to rent from a few independent companies in Paris but the city cracked down on them and they had to close down.

8. Where did I go to school for photography?

I started off in the dark room in high school. I shot in black and white film and would develop my own prints. I watched a family of 4 kids every Summer so I photographed them a lot for assignments and practice. I went to college in 2000 and having a job as a photographer wasn’t something that was on my radar. E-commerce wasn’t even developed at this time. Once I was laid off in 2008, a friend told me about Etsy. I took photographs that I had shot over the years and tried selling them online. I was early to the Etsy platform in 2009 it was just beginning. I used to have to explain to people all the time what Etsy was. Etsy is a huge part of my story because it was my main source of income for years as a photographer.

When I finally started shooting digital in 2008/2009, I had to completely learn how to operate a manual camera from scratch. It has taken years of practice and trial and error to develop my style. I am still learning. It still amazes me that I went from being laid off in 2008 to a self taught photographer and blogger ten years later. I am so grateful for every opportunity and I love what I do every single day.

When I was a kid, my parents sent me to Summer Camp. It was such a big part of my childhood. Once I was old enough for a job, I worked at camp. Summer just isn't the same as an adult. I loved those Summers of staying out late, movies, and camp fires. Those days are long gone now that I have a full time job and I am an adult.

Once I was laid off back in 2008, I started working the weekend shows/markets. It started off as every single weekend and I have slowly cut down over the years. I missed out on a lot over the years. When it came to deciding on Summer shows this year, I chose only one which was rained out. This is my first Summer in 10 years that I have enjoyed and I have to say now I know why people look forward to Summer so much. The past two months have included a trip to France, Chicago patio season, and late nights with friends. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity this time.

If you receive my weekly Newsletter, you know that I share my favorites from the week. I haven't done a favorites post so I thought it would be fun to roundup what I am loving this Summer.

It has been the Summer of RED. I didn't plan on it but my eye keeps heading that way and while I am normally a pink girl, I am going with it.

My sunglasses from Jimmy Fairly have been a Summer Staple. I bought them back in April when I was in need for a new pair of glasses. The company opened in the last couple of years and has been growing rapidly first in Paris and now I spotted them in Cannes this Summer. The glasses run on average 99 euros per pair but they also donate a pair to someone in need. It is similar to Warby Parker/Tom's combined. They also sell eye glasses with prescriptions which I don't wear. It gets better as they guarantee the frames for up to one year. If they break, you can bring them in for a repair and they will fix them. If they can't fix them, they will replace them with a similar model. They change out styles monthly.

I am not sure what took me so long but, I am finally part of the negroni fan club. I love drinking compari and fresh orange juice when I am traveling in either Italy or Portugal. This comes as a close second while being back in Chicago. I get one on the patio on a Friday and I am a happy girl. Ralph Lauren in Chicago would be my favorite spot for one in the city.

I have a staple red nail polish that I wear all Winter long. I recently found a coral color that is my favorite for Summer called "flashed" by Essie.

My skin tans easily but I still hide in the shade if I can help it. You will find Supergoop in my Cuyana every day of the week. I use the lipbalm and the everyday sunscreen and reapply regularly. It isn't sticky which I love and the price point is reasonable.

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I am still a big fan of the one piece bathing suit. I bought a black one from JCrew last year and a red one from Nordstrom Rack this year. It covers all the right places and can still be sophisticated and cute at the same time.

Green City Market is one of my favorite places to visit during the Summer. I am a regular at the Bastille Market in Paris and this is a good substitute. I love visiting the local vendors and shopping seasonally. I will grab fresh eggs, kale, and seasonal fruits on a weekly basis.

I have been working on a Summer Playlist but it isn't finished just yet. I will add it to this post as soon as it is done. For now, you can listen to the Rainy Day Paris Playlist. I opened it up to be collaborative and I love the music that you have added to it.

I have owned my new Fuji camera for about two months and I am loving it. It is so easy to carry around in my bag and not weigh a crazy amount. I can slip it into my purse for a night out too. I can't wait to bring it to Paris this Autumn.

It has taken way longer than I ever expected getting this place in order. I anticipated that I would spend the colder Winter months at home and crossing everything off my to do list but that never happened. Work got in the way and I can't complain. Now that I am trying to slow down Summer a bit and not travel until the end of August to see family, I am making it a priority.

Find a home for my books

It is getting a little out of control as you can imagine. I am in the market for a bookshelf. I am deciding between a few. You can tell me what you think below. I am going to move the Montmartre Paris print somewhere else even though it is one of my favorites and replace this with a tall bookcase. I find myself working in this space the most so I think it makes sense to put the bookcase here.

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Matching Bedside Tables

I love the extra frames I added to above the bedside table. Having my own art at home has been such a joy and they are easy to spot out with new prints. The Diptyque candle was a gift from my favorite hotel in Paris, Grand Hotel du Palais Royal and brings me good memories.

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The Hallway

I wasn't so in love with the entry table but I ended up finding a piece of marble that fit perfectly and now it works much better! I switch out the hooks with Summer and Winter accessories that makes it easy to grab an umbrella or bag on the way out. The lights in the apartment are an eye sore since it is a rental I have lived with them but I think I am going to switch them out with these.

My Favorite Corner

My favorite corner is my dresser and Anthropologie mirror. I love mixing old antique finds with new pieces. The mirror was as close to a Parisian mirror as I could in the States without bringing one home. I still have to style the top but this little corner makes me happy.

The Kitchen

The kitchen still needs to be painted but I changed out the hardware from the original silver to gold nobs. I need shelves above the oven and the floors kill me. They are black and white vinyl that are so hard to keep clean. I want to order these for the floor.

One more thing I am missing...

I am moving a few more pieces of furniture around but I have a blank spot where my dresser used to sit. I am giving away my TV because I rarely use it. I need a full length mirror and I think this spot will be just the place. The one thing I am hesitant to give away is my desk but right now I am not really using it. There will be a lot more added storage space with the end tables.

This one from Restoration Hardware is my dream mirror but a little out of my budget. I will be hunting for an old frame at the Randolph Antique Market this Weekend to see if I can create my own.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what I have so far!

This post does include affiliate links which help contribute to my coffee and croissant research fund. Merci!

Happy 2 Year Blog Anniversary!! It has been a long and crazy second year and I can't believe how much this blog has grown and how much I have learned. I remember hearing about "blogs" in college back in early 2000. It seemed interesting but I had no idea how to code and what the heck would I would write about. Here I am over 300 posts later and I have certainly found a few things to share.

The idea came to me when I couldn't sleep and I quickly made it over to the computer to search on Godaddy.com, I was surprised the name was available so I quickly clicked purchase and for $12 everydayparisian.com was born. There was a lot of planning and brainstorming going into the blog launch. I should have known at this time that writing a blog was a lot of work. From prelaunch to now, it really hasn't stopped. But after two years, it is still so much fun and something I look forward to every day.

I am not sure if it is normal to celebrate a blog Anniversary, but I like to celebrate the big things and little accomplishments so here you go. When I first came up with the idea to write a blog and put everything in action to build this site, I didn't really read any other blogs. I had no idea how to start a blog or what went into it. Two years later, I don't have a lot of "blogger" friends. I like to stay in my own lane and that is ok with me. This is why I am not sure if it is normal to celebrate a blog anniversary.

I also think this might be part of the success of the blog because I haven't really looked at what other people have done or are doing.

As you know with Links I Love, I am reading a lot of blogs and resources now on a weekly basis. I have a few favorite blogs that I should share in an upcoming post. I will note that there is room for ALL of us in the digital world. Every blog and person brings their own creativity and personal touch with their own voice.

If I told you all the late nights and hard work that goes into writing this blog then I think you would agree that it is time to pop the cork on the chilling champagne in the fridge. I am a numbers girl, it is sometimes hard to tear me away from analyzing stats so I pulled a few for the blog's anniversary.

Blog Stats for Year 2

170 Blog Posts for the year

My largest audience for blog readers comes from Paris, then NYC, and Chicago. There are readers in over 9,676 cities. This is so crazy and cool at the same time.

198 countries to date.

323,774 Page Views

I was having wine with a friend last night and we were discussing the stats of the blog. I really don't grasp the idea that SO many of you guys are reading the blog around the world. I still think back to the day I hit the launch button and I had no idea what to expect. Would anyone read? Or as this just one crazy idea?

In the last couple of months, I have been meeting people who recognize me and read the blog while I am at the grocery store and walking on the street, or even friends tell me their friends read the blog and want to meet me. But why?? I have to admit it is a little strange because you and I are just the same.

Once I get past that strange dance, the truth is a lot of my readers have become friends and that is the best gift out of writing this blog, way more than money. So if you do see me on the street or at a restaurant, stop by and say hello. I can promise you I will give you a big smile and a hug. I can't tell you home much your support means to me!

In case you are wondering and I am sure my Dad has this question in the back of his head, "Do I make money with the blog?" I think this is a very controversial topic with me sharing this information, my friends all have different opinions.

I don't think you should start a blog with the intention of making money. I think being authentic and genuine is the most important thing when it comes to my blog audience. I actually turn down 98% of any offers for sponsored posts or even people asking for me to add a link to my weekly roundup. My suggestions come from me and they are something I believe in and support. I would never want to loose the trust of my readers. That being said, the amount of money I could make from this blog would be significantly more if I took every offer or even reduced my acceptance rate by a little bit. I hope this clears some questions up for all of you.

The Money Stats

The money stats... just in case you clicked on this post to scroll down to the very bottom. From July 7 2017 - 2018. My grand total was $5,627.69. I wrote 170 blog posts which comes out to $33.10 or $15.80 per day. After doing the math, I realized it is a little more than a coffee and croissant but if you factor in how much time each post takes to write, I am way below minimum wage.

What does Year 3 look like?

I am having so much fun learning French with Caroline. She has interviewed for a job which might mean she will have a full time responsibility. She promises that I will still be her student we will just have to find different meeting times. I would love to bring some of the French I am learning to the blog to help you with navigating Paris. It has been a lot of fun working on recipes. I know this was something that people really requested at the end of 2017 and I have been so bad at this. I am working on bringing more soon!

I would love to expand a little more outside of Paris and show you more of France. Antibes was so refreshing and all the French tell me there is more to France than Paris...

I plan on sharing a little more of the blogging world with you. It may not appeal to all of you but I want to share what I have learned and hopefully help you launch/build something of your own.

I have the dream to work with JCrew. You already know I am a BIG fan over here. I also would love to work with Anthropologie. I was approached by a hotel earlier this year to craft the perfect "Every Day Parisian" time in Paris and sadly they never replied to the email. It sounded like a dream opportunity. I really LOVE working with hotels when I travel so I hope to continue this over the next year. I also have this crazy dream of being invited to harvest in September that I am still working on.

I fully believe in creating your own destiny and putting out in the world what you want. So there you have it. Year 3 has the possibility to be a very exciting and big year. I can't thank you enough for all of your support this past year. Thank you for reading Every Day Parisian. I promise to toast a glass of champagne to all of you tonight.

I had about an hour or so to pack for The South of France before heading to the airport. I landed a last minute project in Cannes and my flight left early Tuesday morning. I was still in Ohio with my family for Father's Day and we were getting our teeth cleaned and tying up loose ends on Monday. My flight anxiety was growing and I was trying to stay calm. I was trying to plan as much as I could in my head before I landed back in Chicago Monday night.

I knew packing in a carryon was going to make the most sense. I had a few things on my mind to purchase in my short trip but there were no guarantees. I brought along an expandable Longchamp Weekender for travel just in case I needed to check a bag for the way home. I cannot leave home without my Cuyana Travel Bags. I use one for makeup and the other for toiletries (all my French creams) I will say the Nice Airport was very tough coming back and I had too many French creams for my carryon and they pulled my bag aside and I almost missed my flight. Make sure not to go too crazy like me.

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My computer, camera and passport always go in my Cuyana Top Zip Tote. I have owned this bag for two years and I swear by it. I may overpack it a bit with heavy things and it has never had an issue. It is also great with the top zip to keep all your valuables secure. It fits right on my suitcase so I don't have to strain my shoulders. It has literally been around the world with me.

I had just purchased this red swimsuit at Nordstrom Rack over the weekend so I packed it in hoped I would take a dip in The Mediterranean. I picked up these Jimmy Fairly sunglasses in Paris and they have been put to good use so far. Sunscreen is so important. I brought Supergoop along with Sisley All Day All Year with me.

Photo of me by Jennifer Claire Watkins

I packed a few dresses in my carryon including this red dress from JCrew that has become a Summer staple. I might have to buy another one!

I thought about bringing espadrilles or wedges but last minute decided not to. It was a good choice since they wouldn't fit in my carryon. I walked 12 miles in flats both days. My feet hurt from the cobblestones in sandals rather than my blondos but at 100 degrees I couldn't imagine wearing closed shoes. These sandals are from JCrew two years ago and I still wear them.

From my walk back to the hotel. I couldn't resist a photo when my dress matched the flowers.

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It was 100 degrees for the time I was in Antibes and Cannes so the lighter the clothes the better.

I ended up bringing two cameras since I was there on assignment. My new camera was great for walking around Antibes and throwing in my Cuyana bag.

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I am all about the midi skirt right now. I packed them for the flight to and from since they are so comfortable.

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One of the most searched terms on the blog is about my hair, so I wanted to make sure there was a resource for those looking for more details. I guess I think it is funny because I am pretty traditional and classic.

I used to wash my hair EVERY SINGLE DAY... why? I thought it was greasy and it just became more oily. I made a snap decision to force myself to go every other day and now I am at maybe two to three times a week. It has totally changed my hair and I think it is much healthier and happier. I will say, having bangs really helps. I wash them every day and sometimes twice if I work out and have a meeting afterwards. I wash and blow dry them quickly with Klorane shampoo when I wash my face. It is super easy to throw up the rest of my hair in a half top knot or ponytail and keep my bangs fresh. This helps between washes.

I have been using Hair Rituel products since the launch in February. My two favorite products are the Hair Care Oil which smells insanely good. I throw this in after I wash my hair and put it on the ends. If I feel my hair is getting dry in between washes I will use it then as well. I condition about once a week and I have been using the Hair Rituel Hair Mask once a week. You use it from roots to ends. I typically will throw my hair up in a top knot in the shower and shave my legs while it works its magic.

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I am extremely lucky to have really talented people take care of my hair (cut and color). I have had grey hair since I was 15, it used to just be a little but now that I am 36 it is a lot more. Demi who does my color calls them "highlights." I have been going to Spoke and Weal in Chicago since they opened and Demi Passaris has been coloring my hair just about every 8 weeks. I give her full creative control when she colors and she covers my grey hair. I always joke with her if she changes the color just a tiny bit because I can tell warmer or cooler. I completely trust her skills and talent. She usually adds a gloss on top of the color and it keeps it healthy and shiny. If you are in Chicago, I can't recommend her enough.

For my cut, I see Amanda Price. She is amazing and totally listens when I ask for bangs to be a tiny bit shorter because they grow like a weed. Anyone else with bangs feel this way? She cut my hair in February and I haven't gotten a cut since because my hair has been healthy, but she has been seeing me once a month for bang trims. Amanda gets all the credit for my Bardot bangs. I cannot wait for today's haircut with her.

This is not a sponsored post. Demi and Amanda don't know I am writing this about them, but hopefully they won't mind me sharing my hair secrets with you. The Hair Rituel products were gifted to me by my friends at Sisley. I have been using them since February and I wouldn't write about something that I didn't truly believe in. The two magic products helped keep my hair healthy in between haircuts.

This post does include affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant research. Merci!

10 years ago today, I lost my job. I was a statistic amongst many in 2008. I remember driving home from my meeting and crying my eyes out. I called my Dad and shared the news. I had no idea how I was going to pay my rent or my newly leased car payment.

I was the first of my friends to lose my job during the recession. I was embarrassed, even though it wasn't my fault. During the first couple months, I was completely lost. I couldn't find a job, but I refused to spend my days sitting at home on the couch watching tv or sleeping late.

I was on unemployment, so I didn't have much money at all. I walked to the bookstore every day. I would visit Borders or Barnes and Noble or sometimes both. I would pick up a book that I wanted to read and I would literally read ALL day. I would take a break for lunch and cross the street to the other bookstore. I didn't finish a book in a day but sometimes I was close. I would make notes on what page I finished on and picked up the next day. I would read anything and everything. I even considered going back to grad school.

Some of my friends that know this make me feel guilty about not going to an actual library. But there was something comforting about the bookstore. My Dad used to take us on Sundays when we were kids. I think I have made up for it with the Book Club! I have helped sell a lot of books over the last two years.

One of my friends asked me if I could do anything for a job what would it be. The answer was simple, "I wanted to travel the world taking photographs and find a way to get paid for it." This was way before e-commerce took off. I had no idea how I was going to make this happen. I truly believe in putting what you want in the universe.

In 2009, I still couldn't find a job so I started working as a Nanny. I worked as a night Nanny and as a day Nanny. My hours were 10 pm - 7 am twice a week for a newborn. (they ended up keeping me for a whole year) The other was for a family during the day a few days a week. I would work on my Etsy shop while the kids slept. I read a ton of articles and tried to figure out tricks and tips on how to build my shop.

In 2010, I booked a trip to Paris with babysitting money and airline miles from my previous job. I photographed from morning until night learning the city by getting lost. I came home from that trip and put my photographs in the Etsy shop. It was pretty quickly afterwards that my business started to grow. I finally found my niche! I had two bestsellers from that Paris trip that ended up selling with One Kings Lane.

By 2011, I was completely on my own as a Travel Photographer. It was one of the scariest parts leaving behind stable income from being a Nanny to relying fully on my photography. For anyone who has taken the scary leap, it somehow finds a way of working out.

Since my first solo trip to Paris in 2010, I have been fortunate to have had a lot of Paris adventures I had no idea that this would turn into a full time business and Paris would be the main focus. It was never the plan. I actually thought if anything, I was going to move back to Italy after my semester abroad.

Earlier, I mentioned that you have to put what you want out in the universe. In the very beginning when I was walking to the bookstore every day, I stopped by the store Papyrus that was close by. I decided that I wanted to sell one of my photographs in the store. I had no idea how I was going to do it but I simply asked. I made it a goal. A few years later, I received an email from Papyrus asking to license one of my images.

One of the books that I read while I was first unemployed was the book "The Secret"

In the past few years, I have had the opportunity to sell my work at Barnes and Noble (3 projects) Indigo (a bookshop in Canada), Pottery Barn, West Elm, World Market, even Target! You should see my face when I see my work out in the wild, I can't help but hide the biggest smile. I am so proud.

When people ask me about what I do for a living, it always sparks a conversation. I couldn't find a job back in 2008, so I created one. I found a way to travel the world, take pictures, and make a living.

There is a lot of the story that fills in from my first solo trip to Paris up until now. It hasn't always been easy and it hasn't been a smooth ride. There have been a lot of roadblocks along the way and my business is constantly changing and evolving. If I had the chance to do it all over again with all the struggles, I would say yes! Owning a business isn' for everyone. It takes a lot of dedication, late nights, and early mornings. I am a self-taught photographer, blogger, and now social media consultant.

I lost my job in my twenties when my friends were still single and going out on the weekends. I had to make a lot of sacrifices with money and time to get to where I am. It has been 2 years discovery and 8 years as a solo entrepreneur.

My Next Chapter

I have been dreaming about my next chapter for a long time now. I told Katie Donnelly that this was my book jacket photo when she shot it last year. I have to put it out into the universe and work hard to make it happen. Just like 10 years ago, I have no idea how to make it happen but, I want to write a book. I don't know which direction I will take, I have a few ideas. I am playing around with a coffee table book but my only hesitation is that I want it to be more than a quick read. I want to inspire people with this book to either take a trip to Paris or chase their dreams like I have.

I would love to know your thoughts on Paris book ideas, what you want to read about, and maybe someone knows a publisher??!

This post does include affiliate links which helps contribute to my coffee and croissant money. Merci!

At the start of this year, I made a goal to Master the Art of Sleep. I was honest about my struggle with sleep and it actually surprised a lot of people. Friends and readers from all over sent messages asking if everything was ok, I am totally fine! I just am not the best sleeper! This explains ALL the coffee I drink during the day.

I could make a list of a million goals for the year but I figured having just one was enough and I could really focus on it. Since it is June 1, I thought I would share my progress and YES there is progress.

Sleep Routine

I suffer from migraines and one of my triggers is when I disrupt my sleep pattern. I get made fun of my sleep schedule but keeping a consistent sleep schedule even on the weekends has been key. I typically climb into bed around 10:30 and wake up around 6ish (my alarm is set for 7 am)

Before I go to bed, there are a few things I do around the house. I fill up my Brita water filter with a full amount and make sure there is water in my Nespresso. The first thing I do in the morning is drink water and coffee so this is pretty important.

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What I Wear to Bed

This is something pretty new I discovered and to be honest, I didn't think it would make a difference but it really has. Instead of pants to bed which I always used to wear, I started wearing pajama shorts. I am not too hot in the middle of the night and this helps. My family totally makes fun of me but I can't sleep without a sleep mask. It is my comfort and usually puts me right to sleep. I keep one at my sister's house, one in my travel bag, and a few on my night stand. They seem to go missing like a loose sock in the dryer. My niece even found one recently and put it on so she could be like me.

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My Bed

I really wanted to get a new bed at the start of this year as so many of you mentioned this might be the problem. I still have the same bed but I made a little upgrade. I currently have Boll and Branch sheets, which I absolutely love for the soft cotton. I recently purchased this Boll and Branch blanket and I swear it is a game changer. The texture is amazing and it is so soft. I literally can't wait to climb into bed every night. You have to wash it before using, I use this Laundress detergent on my whites. The smell is heavenly and there is nothing like crawling into freshly washed sheets. You will thank me, I promise!

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Before Bed

There are two things that really help with sleep once I am in bed. My alarm is on so I put it in airplane mode until I wake up. This way if texts come in during the middle of the night (which they do) they won't wake me. I love to read before bed. Right now I am reading "The Lost Vintage" I have a stack of books on my night stand. Writing my to do list for the next day really helps if I am overwhelmed. I can let go what is on my mind and do a mental prep for the morning. (you can read my productivity tips here)

If I am struggling with sleep or need to quiet my mind and I am not there yet, I will put on a podcast. I LOVE "How I Built This" on NPR. I hope one day I am on the show. For whatever reason, this puts me right to sleep. If you have other favorite podcasts I would love to know since I am running out of episodes.

I can't say I have mastered the art of sleep, but I am on my way to mastering it! It is always going to be a process and a big focus. If I get enough sleep, I feel I can do just about anything. Having a routine and knowing what works has really helped in the whole process.

I would love to know what things you can't sleep without. I hope this helps some of you who are mastering sleep just like me.

I was saving this post for a little bit down the road but, my hard drive seems to have a case of the Monday's (all week) fingers crossed she is fixed by Friday. Talk about STRESS!

The one question I get asked almost the most over everything else is, "Are you fluent in French?" I have been traveling back and forth to Paris since 2013 with some stays being multiple months long, but I am still not fluent. It is actually easier than you think to move about Paris without being fluent or knowing much of the language.

I studied French in High School , I graduated in 2000. (you do the math) I loved my French teachers and I still keep in touch with them, but we never learned conversational French. We learned how to conjugate verbs, vocabulary, and history. When I moved to Paris in 2013, it was trial by fire. I had no idea what I was doing and I even left one bakery because I had no idea what they were saying. It took me a while to figure things out on my own, and asking questions to friends who spoke French or native speakers.

I quickly picked up on essentials about ordering coffee (the right and wrong way) ordering at the boulangerie (essential) and navigating places such as the pharmacie when I was sick. Etiquette for navigating shops was also very important. "Bonjour" and "merci" go a long way.

I didn't really need to know more than that to get around. I figured out the metro pretty easily thanks to my life in Chicago and I had my phone to get me around via Google maps.

Year after year, my French wasn't improving because I wasn't trying. Fast forward 5 years and I built a growing business around Paris, I wasn't even fluent, not even close.

So why am I taking French lessons after all these years? It honestly is about time. Now that the blog is growing (YES!!) I have been getting outreach from clients in France that want to partner. They write in French to pitch mostly and I am always replying in English (and apologizing). There are some projects I don't sign because I am not fluent in French. I am honestly embarrassed more than anything. I had an opportunity to practice and learn right in front of me but I was too shy to try. The one thing that held me back was that I was too scared of making a mistake.

I am a regular at a local boulangerie in my neighborhood and they had a new hire of a girl that was from the south of France. I took a chance and asked her if she would teach me French. She said yes, and now we are meeting every week at the same time. We meet for one hour and we work on whatever I need help with. Our initial meeting was where I was in French and what I needed help with. I call Caroline "The Mary Poppins of French" she makes every lesson a game and she is so patient with me. She has been kind enough to offer me help with my business e-mails so I will not miss another opportunity.

During our lessons each week, Caroline makes me speak in French and I am learning and making mistakes as I go. I am given flashcards with French words and each week we have a lot of vocabulary and phrases that we cover just by causal conversation. The good news is, I have a lot of random vocabulary and French knowledge I have picked up over the years. Caroline tells me I just need the confidence to speak.

There isn't an end goal of fluency or a diploma or certificate (although she says she will make me a fake one) This is all to help me connect with Paris better and communicate in French with friends and business colleagues. On my next trip to Paris, I plan on using my French and growing my knowledge of the language by practicing.

The one takeaway I have already is that I am getting better at making mistakes, more than I ever thought possible. I am facing my fear and challenging myself to not being perfect at something. This will be a long term project. I am so grateful that Caroline took me on as her student.

I have set a goal of wanting to write something in French on the blog. Caroline sends me texts in French, which is so much harder than speaking. She is already holding me accountable for my goal and asking me where I have written my French paragraph. So hopefully soon... stay tuned!

There are many opportunities to learn French including apps, online courses and classes. I chose to work with a private teacher because it worked best with what I needed and it was convenient for my schedule.

Has anyone taken classes for French or are you working on a new skill? It gets harder as you get older but I am determined to keep trying.

If you told me 10 years ago that I would be a morning person, I would laugh. I had a job with a salary, boss, and normal (somewhat) hours. Being self-employed requires so much discipline. It wasn't ever my intention to start a business, but after 10 years of being unemployed it seems to be a good fit for me.

I am a morning person. Before I go to bed, I set my alarm for 7 am. Almost every day of the week including Saturday and Sunday, I wake up about an hour before my alarm. Sometimes I can fall back asleep but most of the time I am awake. I will stay in bed until 7 and go through my day, what needs to be tackled. I typically will turn off my alarm around 6:30 once I am wide awake.

Gratitude

1. I say what I am grateful for out loud. I cover just about everything in this moment friends, business, family. I love taking the time to appreciate everything I have, even the small things.

Drink Up

2. I am very dehydrated when I wake up, I keep water next to my bed and drink up right away. I am trying to get better at this before bed too. Even if it means getting up in the middle of the night.

Coffee

3. I head straight to my Nespresso and turn it on. (I make sure the water container is filled the night before) I also pour 16 oz of water with a fresh lemon wedge.

Breakfast

4. Breakfast. It is pretty much guaranteed I will be hungry when I wake up. This varies a bit but normally it is my homemade yogurt (I make a weeks worth on Sundays) and fresh fruit. Breakfast always has fresh fruit, whatever is in Season. I do eat a small square of chocolate each morning with my coffee. I am addicted to the matcha one from Vosges right now.

Beauty

7. I have a whole beauty/skincare routine that is a little lengthy so I will save it for another post. But I hydrate through cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. I throw on sunscreen and mascara for class and that is just about it! I am pretty minimalist when it comes to makeup and I don't want to clog my pores when I work out.

Get Moving

8. I am in class from 9 - 10 every morning just about every day of the week. This gets my blood flowing and I get the best ideas for work during this time. It is so important to my creativity. I call it my "morning meeting" and schedule the rest of the day around this time. It is totally worth getting up early for and sometimes working late for.

Do you have a morning routine? What is one thing you have to do each morning?

Growing up, I was the tall skinny kid. I was picky, but I could eat whatever I wanted (pizza, doughnuts, you name it). My Mom always told me it would catch up to me eventually and she was right. After college came stress with jobs and then getting laid off. I worked out here and there but I didn't have a routine.

In my mid to late 20's someone in my family started calling me fat... I was self employed, trying to start a business and it wasn't what I wanted to hear. I was encouraged to hire a trainer. He was the Uncle of one of the kids I used to nanny and I made a three month commitment. He gave me a strict diet and we worked out with weights twice a week. The diet was mostly lean proteins, and low carbs. I was miserable and so hungry all the time. I told him I had a goal of fitting into a pair of pants that was size X. He kindly told me I would never be a size X. I slimmed down and stuck to the diet and finally squeezed into size X. But then I left for Paris...

I was surrounded by cheese, bread, and pastries on a daily basis. I spent a lot of time in the grocery store looking for foods that still fit my "diet" I didn't want to loose what I worked so hard for. At this time in 2013, it was hard to find skim or low fat milk and greek yogurt wasn't in my grocery stores. So I started eating full fat yogurt (best thing ever), bordier butter and the French drink whole milk in their cafè crémes so I thought, why not? All in moderation of course.

I observed so much during my time in Paris and I wanted to learn the ways of the French. I did my best to fit in as much as possible and that meant adapting to the culture. I tried aligot, magret de canard, and even rabbit. Smoking was not an option ;)

I spent most of my days exploring and learning the city of Paris by foot. I had morning walks for my baguette and evening walks to watch the sunset. These were my favorite times of the day. I still say my favorite time in Paris was when I didn't know anyone. I lived on the top floor of my apartment building which meant 5 flights of stairs. There was an elevator but I chose not to use it unless absolutely necessary. I walked an average of 10 miles a day without really even trying.

One of my favorite things to in Paris is visit the markets. There was one by my house where I would go to get my fruits. I became friends with the vendor and he would then fill my bag extras and I would give him a few euros. I would make the walk from Montmartre down to the Bastille market at least once a week. I had my regular vendors there and I still do today, 5 years later.

At the end of three months, I was SO happy. Taking the leap to move to Paris was one of the scariest things I have ever done but also one of the best decisions. The weather finally started to turn at the end of April and I had a ticket home. I had no idea how hard leaving Paris was going to be but I knew early on in my three months that I had to find a way to come back.

Once I got home, there were so many things I missed about Paris. I wanted to find as much of Paris in Chicago. I had changed so much as a person more than I thought I would and adjusting wasn't so easy. I made regular trips to the market in my neighborhood and continued to eat seasonally. I buy whole milk for my coffee now and I learned to make my own yogurt because I never found the same French yogurt I loved back in the States. Have you ever looked at the amount of sugar in one container of yogurt? I have my favorite spots for baguettes and croissants where they greet me with a friendly "bonjour".

Over the last 5 years, it has been a lifestyle change. The only thing I still keep from my trainer is always having a protein at each meal chicken, fish, meat, or eggs. I have slowly been inviting a few vegetables into my diet and dark chocolate is eaten daily. My trainer always told me I would never be a size X and I actually believed him. Now I am Size X minus 2!! I don't weigh myself. If I fit into my clothes than we are good. If things start to become tight than I know I need to cut back on something. It is as simple as that. (croissant research comes at a price!)

I do stay pretty active even in the Winter. I attend a dance/yoga class daily. In the Summer, I will walk a few miles a day but rarely 10 miles like in Paris.

5 Things that I Changed in the last 5 Years:

1. Full Fat Milk instead of Skim. I only use a little in my coffee in the morning. The health benefits are better and I buy Organic or straight from the Farmer at Green City Market in The Summer.

2. I make my own yogurt. I typically do this on a Sunday and I have an entire weeks worth. You can do this with skim or full fat milk. There is a lot less sugar content and it tastes so much better than the ones in the store. I will add a little seasonal fresh fruit to the bowl for flavor.

3. I buy Seasonally. During the Summer, I am a regular at the market picking up my fruits, kale, eggs, and milk. During the Winter months, I will buy at my local grocery store. I stick to what is in season and I am getting better at buying the organic option for fruits even if it is more expensive.

4. I shop often and only for what I need that night/next day. I am a frequent shopper at the grocery and they know me by name. I prefer to buy fresh fish, meats, and produce. My fridge isn't too full and I try to waste less. My schedule can change from day to day so I can't plan too much in advance. For those of you with families, this is much harder. My sister does a few big shops because it works better with her schedule.

5. I don't eat cakes/cookies often. I do enjoy a small square of dark chocolate on a daily basis. (my favorite is Vosges) I am not tempted by the pastry cases in Paris. I can easily walk in and out of a Patisserie or Boulangerie with nothing. I actually feel guilty I don't want to take anything home.

As the blog grows, I find myself working from home in front of the computer more often than ever before. There are days I feel I am just being "busy" and not so productive. I think we have all been there. I put together a list of 5 tips that help me when it comes to being productive. You can use these to apply to your work/life balance. If you have any tips that help you that aren't on the list, please comment below and share.

1. Work during Peak Times

My most productive time is between 7 am - 9 am. This is not for everyone, I totally get it. I am more productive with less distractions. I do get the occasional phone call from my sister heading into work but that is pretty much it. I get more done during this time than any other time in the day. I schedule a workout at 9 am and I don't feel guilty because I have already gotten so much done.

2. Put the Phone Away

When I am doing my two hours of writing in the morning, I leave my phone on the charger. Less distractions leads to higher productivity. No checking instagram, facebook, or texting with friends.

3. Check Emails at Certain Times

If I am constantly checking emails when they pop up, I would never be productive. Some things require immediate attention but not all things. Pick a few times of the day when you can devote to your inbox and then go back to work after 15-30 minutes later after you have tackled what is most important.

4. Set a Timer

This has been the most helpful to me. I am not sure where I first read it so if you know who came up with this first please let me know so I can credit them. Set a timer. I typically choose 30 minutes. I turn off my phone and put my head down to get work done without distractions. It is usually a task I don't want to do but need to get done. This also helps when cleaning the house. I put on music and set the timer. The house is clean(er) and I feel so much better. This is called the Pomodoro Technique.

5. Write a To Do List with Time Increments

I still use an old school journal more than my phone for notes. If I have a busy day ahead, I will make a to do list for the next day. My Business Coach recommended that after each task, I write how much time it should take me. 10 minutes, 15, 30. When I have 10 minutes in the day if my meeting is running late, I can refer back to the list and squeeze in a quick task. This saves me from jumping on pinterest of Instagram to pass the 10 minutes and I am way more productive!

Do you want to see more of these or should I just stick to Paris?

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The two things that keep me organized and productive each week. I love writing things down on paper.

It has been quite the week. Part of me feels like I was not very productive but, it is all in perspective. For all of you Moms out there, I will never touch you. My sister is a working Mom and I give her so much credit on balancing kids and a full time job.

This week I had 3 strategy meetings (2 with new perspective clients and 1 with an existing client) and I also had 3 first dates. I feel like first dates are kind of like job interviews so today as I write this I have surrendered to my exhaustion.

My friends have asked me to write a dating blog or at least make it a part of this blog and I am still unsure about that. But as I have had 3 dates in one week, it could be a little entertaining? I try to keep a little part of my life private.

Along with the busy week, I scheduled a check up with my doctor. She asked me if I needed anything and I kindly asked for a prescription for a day off. She smiled and simply replied "Who is going to fill it?" She entered the room a few minutes later with a prescription written for "Treat Yourself to A Day Off" Currently the paper is sitting on my desk as I write this. I thought about it all week... For someone that balances a few different businesses and rarely takes time off, this day off is sounding better and better. Now I am thinking about writing her and asking if it refillable? But I should see if I can actually take a full day off.

The funny story that helped me reach the conclusion I needed a day off. My second meeting of the week was in the suburbs of Chicago. I knew it would be a far drive so naturally I packed snacks. The next morning I was preparing for my doctors visit and I was cleaning up a little in the morning. I had put away my snacks somewhere but I couldn't find them anywhere. I checked all the kitchen cabinets and the fridge but they were nowhere to be found. I have heard of tired mothers putting milk in the pantry but I am just a hard working single girl. It took me a good ten minutes but I found the snacks (peanut butter pretzels).

I have no idea what I will do for my day off but suggestions are welcome. I am looking forward to hanging two new pieces of my own art in the apartment. These just arrived today and I am in love.